Kiburi Tucker leaves the courthouse with his family after being sentenced for tax evasion and wire fraud at the Federal Courthouse in Newark on April 18, 2018.

---

The son of a state Assemblywoman and a close friend of Newark Mayor Ras Baraka was sentenced to more than three years in prison Wednesday for cheating the government of taxes and defrauding a now-defunct nonprofit.

Kiburi Tucker, of Newark, pleaded guilty to tax evasion and wire fraud charges in November, admitting he embezzled $332,116 from The Centre, Inc., a nonprofit started by his late father -- a hailed civil rights leader and longtime Newark City Council member.

Tucker, 43, also underreported his income, including money he earned from his political consulting firm, Elite Strategies LLC, that provided services to Newark, the city's redevelopment agency, and Baraka's campaign.

Jaclyn Corin and Alfonso Calderon, both survivors of the Parkland Massacre in Florida, spoke on a panel at Science Park High School on Saturday.

---

High schools students from across Newark converged at Science Park High School on Saturday for a forum against gun violence featuring Jaclyn Corin and Alfonso Calderon, both survivors of the Parkland Massacre in Florida.

The forum, which was attended by hundreds of Newark youth, was designed to allow New Jersey students to dialogue and develop coalitions in New Jersey and across the state to stop the spread of gun violence and to demand stricter gun laws.

This student-led conversation on gun violence is aimed at strengthening the student voice and identifying solutions nationally and locally. The visit from Parkland students comes just two weeks after a massive rally in Newark as part of the March For Our Lives demonstrations across the country.

Businesses along Halsey Street in Newark are among those that would benefit from the passage of S3549, which cleared the Assembly today.

---

Newark's popular Urban Enterprise Zone, which expired under Gov. Chris Christie's administration, is close to making a comeback.

Legislation co-sponsored by Assemblywoman Eliana Pintor Marin that would extend Urban Enterprise Zones for 10 years—including reviving the one in Newark—received final approval from the Assembly Thursday.

The bill, S-3549, previously cleared the state Senate and now heads to Gov. Murphy's desk. If signed into law, the legislation would reactivate five UEZs that expired: Bridgeton, Camden, Newark, Plainfield and Trenton.

Former NBA superstar Shaquille O'Neal is making his mark on his hometown skyline.

And much like the 7-foot-1-inch sports legend, the 22-story apartment complex -- colloquially called "Shaq Towers" -- will hover over the city's downtown as itsfirst high-rise in more than 50 years.

"I remember when I was growing up (the city) used to be beautiful like this so the older I get, I want it to be a little more beautiful," O'Neal told NJ Advance Media. "I invest in things that are going to make a difference."

Fifty years removed from the riots in Newark, it's a good time to reflect on the content and impact of the report of the Governor's Select Commission on Civil Disorders that was appointed by Gov. Richard Hughes in 1967 and issued its final report in 1968. That history helps us understand where the Brick City is today.

The commission -- I was its executive director -- studied the circumstances that led to the violence, including the deaths of 26 people that consumed Newark in July 1967; produced significant findings and issued a wide range of recommendations for change.

The riots culminated a period of decline in the city, particularly for African-Americans. For five days, looting and gunfire had attracted State Police and the National Guard to put down the violence. More than 700 people were injured and some $10 million in damage was suffered.

An appeals court has refused to reinstate a year of retirement benefits for a former Newark mayor who worked as an Essex County Collegeprofessor, ruling that it was reasonable for the pension program to strip Sharpe James of those earnings because of hisfederal conviction.

James, Newark's mayor for 20 years who served 18 months in prison, called theAppellate Division decision "ludicrous and an insult to justice and fair play," he told NJ Advance Media in an email.

At issue was James' yearlong service as a senior fellow and municipal government professor for Essex County College's Urban Issues Institute between 2006-07. He earned $150,000 in a position created specially for him, according to the case.

A conference room in Newark's LeRoy F. Smith, Jr. Public Safety Building has been rededicated as the "Sheila Y. Oliver Conference Center," after New Jersey's Lt. Gov. Sheila Oliver.

---

Newark, NJ--A conference room in Newark's LeRoy F. Smith, Jr. Public Safety Building has been rededicated as the "Sheila Y. Oliver Conference Center," in honor and in recognition of the public service contributions and accomplishments of New Jersey's first African American Lt. Gov. Sheila Oliver.

Essex County Executive Joseph DiVincenzo, Jr. officially renamed the 14th-floor conference center on Tuesday, which was previously named for Oliver in 2013 to recognize her for being the second woman to serve as Assembly Speaker in New Jersey history.

"Sheila Oliver has had a long career in public service, been a strong advocate for her constituents and a role model for other women and children, and raised awareness about a variety of social issues and injustices," DiVincenzo said. "She has also been a trailblazer and pioneer, including becoming the first African-American Lt. Governor of New Jersey. It is important to recognize and celebrate people such as Sheila because they break barriers, inspire us and show what can be accomplished with hard work and determination."